Marking machine



April 27, 1943.

C F. ROBBINS ETAL MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 5, 1941 4IS Sheets-Sheet l lnvenors. hrles F.' Robbins Anya'.

PIl 27, 1943 c. F. .RoBBlNs ETAL 2,317,940

MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 5f 1941 3 SheetsSheet 2 Figa l` Inven'rars.

Fig-7. 76 Charles E Robbins VDCA/ic! I'TPuTncm sa bym ATTys.

April 27, 1943.

MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 5, 1941 3 `Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3. 76 s c. F. RoBBlNs ETAL 2,317,940

Patented Apr. 27, 1943 MARKING MACHINE Charles F. Robbins and David F. Putnam, Keene, N. H., assignors to Markem Machine Company, Keene, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Original application February 5, 1941, Serial No. 377,446. Divided and this application July 17, 1941, Serial N0."402,760

1 Claim.

This invention relates to marking machines of that type in which the printed impression is applied to the work by a manually manipulated transfer roll which is separable from the other parts of the machine and which can be temporarily assembled with such other parts for the purpose of receiving an ink impression that is subsequently transferred to the work by the manual manipulation of the transfer roll.

In our co-pending application, Serial No. 377,446, filed Feb. 5, 1941, of which this is a division, there is illustrated a marking machine of the above type which comprises two rotary typecarrying members, each having a type element mounted thereon, means to give said type-carrying members a cyclic movementl by which each type element is moved through a path that begins and ends at the same point, a transfer roll.

rotatably mounted in a holder therefor which is separable from the machine frame and iscapable of being manually placed in the frame in an operative position in which it is so located as to receive an ink impression from the type elements as the type-carrying members are rotated, and means to rotate the transfer roll when it is in its operative position, thereby to provide a rolling contact between the said roll and the type elements by which the latter lay an ink impression on the transfer roll, said holder being .capable of being manually removed from the frame and manually manipulated to transfer the ink impression thereon to the article to be marked.

lIn the machine, illustrated in said application, the means for operating the type-carrying members is such that at the end of each operation of the machine, said members are brought to rest' in a predetermined angular position, and the transfer roll is so constructed that it can only be introduced into the machine or removed therefrom when both it and the type-carrying members are in predetermined relative angular positions.

With this arrangement, the ink impression which each type element lays on the transfer roll will always be located on said roll in a predetermined position, and upon repeated operations of the machine, the successive ink impressions which each type element applies to the roll will register exactly with each other.

With this construction, it is not necessary to clean the transfer roll between successive operations.

In a machine having two type-carrying members, it is usually the practice to use a type element on each type-carrying member which is delOl- 218) signed to print a part only of the complete printed impression, the type element on one type-carrying member being adapted to apply to the transfer roll an imprint corresponding to part of the complete printed impression, and the type element on the other type-carrying member being constructed to apply an ink impression to the transfer roll corresponding to the other part of the complete printed impression.

These machines are also usually made with interchangeable type elements which can be removed from the type-carrying members and replaced by other type elements adapted to make a. different printed impression.

In order that the complete ink impression which is applied to the transfer roll by the two type elements may be a correct one, it is, of course, necessary that the two separate ink impressions which are applied to the transfer roll by the two type members should register exactly with each other, for if the two ink impressions did not register correctly, then the nal ink impression which is applied to the Work would be a distorted one.

It is one of the objects of our present invention to provide a novel construction by which the rotary type-carrying members may be adjusted relative to each other both axially and angularly in order to give them such a relative position that the two ink impressions which areY applied to the transfer roll will register exactly with each other, thereby to produce a clear-cut ink impression which is correct and is not in any way distorted.

- In the drawings wherein we have illustrated an embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 1 is a'front view of an offset marking machine embodying the invention with the transfer roll removed.

Fig. 2 is a view looking to the right, Fig. 1, with the casing removed and the transfer roll shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line l3 3, lig.,2.y

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the transfer roll and its holder.

Figs. 6 and '7 show the two type elements, each of which is adapted to make an ink impression corresponding to a part of the complete ink impression.

Fig. 8 shows the complete printed impression which is applied to the work.

The machine herein illustrated comprises two rotatable type-carrying members 3 and 4 which are mounted on rotary shafts B and 1. These shafts are journaled'in the frame 8, and each from a shaft 48 through the medium of a onerevolution clutch indicated generally at 54, and the shaft 48 is connected by suitable gearing 53, 52 to a shaft 5I of a motor 49.

The driving connections above referred to between the motor 49 and the sprocket chain I2 are the same as those described in detail in our co-pending application, Serial No. 377,446, to which reference may be had.

Each rotary type-carrying member 3 and 4 carries on its periphery a type element, said type elements being indicated at 5 and 5a. Each type element is made so as to print a part only of the complete printed impression to be made.

For purpose of illustration, we have assumed that the complete printed impression comprises the word Markem as indicated at 5b in Fig. 8 with a rectangular border 5c enclosing the word. The type element 5 may carry type characters to print the word Markem as shown in Fig. 6, and the type element 5a may carry a type character adapted to print a rectangular border 5c.

The clutch device 54 is tripped by a trip lever 66 which is mounted on a rock shaft 63, the construction being such that when the trip lever 66 is depressed from its position shown in Fig. 2, the clutch 54 will be engaged and the rotary typecarrying members 3 and 4 will each be given one complete rotation, said clutch element operating to bring said members to rest when each has completed its single rotation.

The transfer or offset roll which receives an ink impression from each of the type elements 5, 5a, and by which this ink impression is transferred to the work, is indicated at I3. This transfer roll is rotatably mounted in a holder I5 which is provided with two arms I6 in which the transfer roll is rotatably mounted, and which is also provided with a handle I1 by which it may be manually manipulated. The transfer roll, which may be of rubber or synthetic rubber-like material that will take a good ink impression, is

mounted on a shaft I4, the ends of which project through the arms I6 of the holder I5 and form trunnion portions I8. The frame of the machine is formed with two pairs of supporting arms 25, 26, the arms of each pair forming between them an open-ended slot 21 into which the trunnion portions I8 of the shaft I4 may be inserted, these two pairs of arms 25, 26 being spaced apart a proper distance to receive between them the forked portion I6 of the holder I5. The transfer roll is introduced into the machine to receive its ink impression by entering the trunnions I8 into the open ends of the slots 21, and when the roll y is in a position in which the trunnion portions I8 bottom against the inner end of the slots 21,

then said roll will be in an operative position toreceive an ink impression from each of the type elements 5 and 5a when the type-carrying members are rotated.

The machine is provided with means for positively rotating the transfer roll in synchronism with the type-carrying members 3 and 4 when the latter are rotated, and for this purpose, the trunnion portion I8 of the shaft I4 of the transfer roll I3 is provided with a wedge-shaped slot 32 which is adapted to receive the wedge-shaped end V3I of a shaft 29 which is journaled in the frame 8 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 30 which meshes with and is driven by the sprocket chain I2. Y

When the machine has been brought to rest by the clutch 54 at the end of any operation, the shaft 29 will always be positioned with the narrow edge of the wedge 3| directed toward the open end of the slot 21.

When the transfer roll I3 .is angularly positioned in its holder I5 with the wide end of the slot 32 directed away from the handle I1, as shown in Fig. 5, then said transfer roll can be inserted into its operative position in the machine, and as the transfer roll approaches its operative position, the Wedge-shaped end 3| of the shaft 29 will enter the wedge-shaped slot 32 of the shaft I4, thereby coupling the shafts 29 and I4 together, so that when the machine is started in operation, the transfer roll I3, as well as the type-carrying members 3 and 4, will be positively rotated. The sprocket wheel and sprocket chain construction for rotating the shafts 6, 1 and 29, is such that the transfer roll I3 will be rotated at the same surface speed as the type-carrying members 3 and 4. In the construction herein shown, the transfer roll is only one half the diameter of the type-carrying members 3 and 4, and the sprocket wheel and sprocket chain construction operate to rotate the transfer roll I3 twice for each single rotation of the typecarrying members 3 and 4. In operating the device, the transfer roll is inserted into the machine, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby coupling its shaft I4 with the shaft 29, and then the clutch 54 is tripped by the trip lever 66 and the type-carrying members 3 and 4 are each given one complete rotation while the transfer.

roll is given two rotations, during which each type element 5 and 5a lays an ink impression on4 the transfer roll, the ink impression left by the type element 5 comprising the word Markem, and the ink impression left by the type element 5a being in the form of a rectangular border 5c which encloses the word Markem These two ink impressions are laid on the transfer roll I3 in exact registry with each other, thereby to form the complete impression to be transferred to the work.

The clutch 54` will bring the parts to rest in position in Fig. 1 with the wedge-shaped portion 3I of the shaft 29 extending horizontally, so that the transfer roll, with its ink impression therein, can be readily withdrawn from the machine, after which it can be rolled over the work to transfer the ink impression thereto. In the device herein illustrated, the holder I5 is provided with an arm B1 having an oiset portion 68 by which the trip lever 66 can be tripped so that when the transfer roll has beeninserted into the machine, the clutch can be thrown into operation by merely swinging the handle I1 of the transfer roll downwardly to cause the end 68 of the arm 61 to engage and depress the trip lever 66.

In order to produce a perfect printed impression on the work, it is necessary that the two ink impressions which the two type elements 5 and 5a apply to the transfer roll should register exactly with each other.

In order to provide for this, we have made the ltwo type-carrying members 3 and 4 adiustable relative to each other both in an axial direction and in an angular direction. This is accomplished by making the type-carrying member 3 adjustable axially vof its shaft, and the type-v carrying member 4 adjustable angularly. These two adjustments provide for correctly indexing the two rotary type-carrying members 3 and 4, so that the two ink impressions will be properly coordinated as they are laid on the transfer roll i3. The type-carrying member is shown as splined to its shaft 6 and is held in position thereon between two clamping nuts S8 and 89 that are screw-threaded to the shaft. By adjusting these nuts 88, 89, the roll or member 3 may be adjusted in the direction of the length of the shaft.

The type-carrying member 4 is capable of slight adjustment angularly about its shaft 1, but is non-adjustable in the direction of the length of the shaft. Said rotary member 4 is clamped between the collar 90 that is fast on the shaft 1 and a clamping collar 9i which is screw-threaded to the said shaft. The fast collar 9i! is provided with two radially extending arms 92, and the type-carrying member 4 is provided with a horizontal stud 93 extending parallel to the shaft 'I and formed with the flatsided end 94 which is located between two adjusting screws 95 that are screw-threaded through the arms 92, as best seen in Fig. 4. Each adjusting screw is provided with a lock nut 96 for holding it in its adjusted position. By backing oi one adjusting screw S and screwing up the other adjusting screw, the rotary type-carrying member 4 will be turned angularly on its shaft '1.

By means of this angular adjustment of the type-carrying member 4, and the axial adjustment of the type-carrying member 3, it is possible to so correctly adjust both of the type-carrying members that the two ink impressions which are laid on the transfer roll I3 will be in exact register with each other. 'I'his adjustability is of special advantage where the type elements 5 and 5a are interchangeable, because after each time that a type element has been removed and replaced by another, it may be desirable to make a slight adjustment in the relative positions of the two type-carrying members in order to correctly index said type-carrying members, so that the two ink impressions that are laid on the transfer roll I3 will be in exact register. In the construction herein shown, each type element, which may be of rubber or rubber-like material, is carried on a backing member 16 of flexible sheet material which is conned on the periphery of the type-carrying member between two undercut shoulders 'I9 and 8B, the shoulder 'I9 being a xed shoulder, and the shoulder 80 being a clamping shoulder which is formed on a ring 85 that is screw-threaded to the type-carrying member 3 or 4.

The ends of each flexible backing member 16 are held in place by clamping plates 82 which are clamped to the type-carrying member by the screws 83, and each of which has a beveled edge 84 that overlies the end edge of the backing member 76.

The type elements are supplied with ink by means of ink rolls 34 that operate in ink reservoirs 33 and are mounted on shafts 35. These ink reservo-irs are removably supported on studs 31 extending from the frame 8, and each reservoir is clamped to its stud 31 by a clamping screw 39.

We claim:

A marking machine comprising a frame, two non-axial parallel shafts journaled therein, each shaft having a free end projecting beyond the frame, a type-carrying member removably carried on the free end of each shaft, said typecarrying members being situated in the same vertical plane, a transfer roll, means mounting said transfer roll in position to receive an ink impression from both type-carrying members simultaneously, two clamping collars screw-threaded to one of said shafts and between which the corresponding type-carrying member is situated, said type-carrying member being splined to the shaft, said collars providing for adjustment of said type-carrying member on the shaft in an axial direction only and the outer collar being removable from the free end of the shaft thereby to permit removal of the type-carrying member from said free end, a xed collar fast on the other shaft between the corresponding type-carrying member and the frame, a clamping collar screwthreaded to the free end of said other shaft and clamping said other type-carrying member against said fixed collar thereby to lock said member against movement in a direction axially of the shaft, said screw-threaded collar being removable from the free end of said other shaft to permit removal of the type-carrying member, said iixed collar having two arms and said other type-carrying member having a projection situated between said arms, and an adjusting screw carried by each arm and engaging said pro-jection whereby said other type-carrying member may be adjusted angularly about its shaft only.

CHARLES F. ROBBINS. DAVID F. PUTNAM. 

